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The benefits of providing healthcare services remotely via telemedicine are now recognised around the world.
When used in the right way, telemedicine has been shown to improve access, particularly for those living in remote areas. Telemedicine can also improve the management of chronic diseases and provide time and cost efficiencies for both healthcare providers and their patients.
The challenge of healthcare provision in the Maldives
Few countries have populations as geographically dispersed as the Maldives. The chain of 1192 small coral islands that make up the Maldives archipelago in the Indian Ocean stretches 820 km in length and 120 km in width, covering a geographical area of approximately 90,000 km2. Just under 200 of the islands are permanently inhabited. To help visualise the geography of the Maldives, it has a total land mass equivalent to the size of Prague, sprinkled out over a territory as big as Portugal, 99 percent of which is ocean.
The islands form natural clusters (atolls) which are administratively grouped into 20 atolls. All inhabited islands have a primary healthcare centre. Secondary care referral centres are located within inhabited atolls. Tertiary hospitals with the full range of specialists are found only in larger urban areas, such as the capital city Malé.
Despite high ratios of skilled health personnel-to-population ratios in the Maldives overall, the geography of the country presents challenges in serving the healthcare needs of those living on the smaller, more remote islands. Residents from remote atolls have previously travelled a long way to gain access to more specialised care. Many citizens have moved from more remote areas to Malé, however being a small island it is already densely populated.
How is telemedicine providing solutions in the Maldives
● Providing medical consultations remotely enables those living in distant islands of the Maldives to consult healthcare specialists without the need for long and difficult journeys.
● Remote monitoring and follow-up improves management for chronic conditions and post-surgical patients.
● Telemedicine enables patients to be triaged where they are, to decide when an in-person appointment is required, avoiding unnecessary travel time and costs.
History of Telemedicine in the Maldives
Earlier telemedicine projects since 2002 faced challenges due to logistical issues and insufficient internet bandwidth. However, since 2020, there has been an acceleration in the development and adoption of telemedicine technologies in the Maldives. Increased digitisation has coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic and is supported by the Maldives’ Ministry of Health, who included the use of telemedicine technologies in their Health Master Plan 2016–2025 to ‘develop mechanisms for distant diagnosis.’ Broadband connectivity has improved, although accessibility and affordability of broadband still remains an issue for some, particularly in the outer islands.
A 2020 survey by a hospital providing telemedicine consultations in the Maldives, found that 63 percent of respondents were very satisfied with the service, and all participants expressed a willingness to continue utilising teleconsultations post-pandemic.
Current challenges for telemedicine in the Maldives
Challenges remain such as widening access to affordable, high quality broadband internet in all areas of the Maldives. Promoting digital literacy among all Maldivians is also a priority. Some telemedicine services are now covered by health insurance policies in the Maldives but this could be expanded. There is also a need for a country-wide, government-led Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system, and regulatory frameworks to ensure privacy of patient data.
The ideal virtual health solution for the Maldives
Telemedicine software is continually improving. Mediflex Virtual Health, a new virtual health solution for the Maldives, offers a user-friendly, complete healthcare management portal in addition to a teleconsultation platform. Mediflex Virtual Health also complies with international standards for data protection.
● Medoment has partnered with Mediflex to launch a Virtual Healthcare Service in the Maldives.
● Now patients can book and consult with their preferred doctors and specialists from anywhere in the Maldives, using Mediflex Virtual Health.
Key features of Mediflex Virtual Health
● Search for doctors by name, speciality, language
● View doctors’ profiles and schedules
● Book and manage appointments online for yourself or family members ● Access virtual appointments from any device
● Invite relatives, carers, other healthcare professionals or specialists into video consultations
● Access medical records or test results online
● Automated appointment reminder service
● Virtual waiting room for teleconsultations
● Online consent management
● Secure direct messaging
● Online prescriptions and refills
● Secure online payment and communication with insurance companies ● Industry Standard Security and Data Protection Compliance (HIPAA)
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